Correcting Calixthe Beyala’s Misrepresentation: Southern Cameroons Is Not a “Problem of Translation”

Calixthe Beyala’s remarks may reflect widespread misconceptions, that needs to be corrected. Southern Cameroons is not a translation problem, nor a regional grievance. It is an unresolved case of decolonisation — a conflict between two states, one of which has been denied its independence.

By Uchiba Nelson

When asked about the Ambazonian independence movement, novelist Calixthe Beyala recently described it as a mere “problem of translation.” She then deflected to security issues in the North and East of La République du Cameroun, as if they were equivalent to the question of Southern Cameroons. Such comments reflect not only a lack of precision but also a troubling misrepresentation of history.

It is important — especially for the education of Francophone audiences — to set the record straight.

Southern Cameroons Was Never Part of La République du Cameroun in 1960

The historical record is unambiguous:

On 1 January 1960, La République du Cameroun (former French Cameroun) obtained independence from France.

At that time, Southern Cameroons remained a UN Trust Territory under Britain, with its own Prime Minister, parliament, judiciary, and political institutions.

No law, treaty, or UN resolution made Southern Cameroons part of La République du Cameroun at independence.

A Distinct Path of Decolonisation

In 1961, under UN General Assembly Resolution 1608 (XV), the people of Southern Cameroons were asked in a plebiscite to choose between joining Nigeria or joining La République du Cameroun. The option of full independence, which was their right under the UN Charter, was unjustly withheld.

The people opted for association with La République du Cameroun. But here lies the key truth: no treaty of union was ever signed or ratified. Without such a treaty, the so-called “union” lacks legal foundation under international law.

No Vote for Bilingualism or Multiculturalism

It is equally important to underline that Southern Cameroonians did not vote for bilingualism or multiculturalism.

The plebiscite was not about language, culture, or identity. It was about political association. Bilingualism and multiculturalism were later imposed by Yaoundé as tools of assimilation.

Southern Cameroonians, of course, value their culture and the richness of diversity. But respect for diversity must not be confused with forced assimilation. The issue is not coexistence — it is consent and sovereignty.

Internal Problems vs. International Dispute

By shifting the discussion toward unrest in the North (Boko Haram) or the East (armed incursions), Beyala conflates very different realities:

The North and East crises are internal matters of La République du Cameroun. They are domestic security challenges.

Southern Cameroons versus La République du Cameroun is an international problem. It involves two territories with different colonial heritages, different independence dates, and distinct legal identities.

That is why Ambazonians maintain that theirs is not “secession” but the restoration of statehood.

Understanding the Intellectual Misstep

To describe Southern Cameroons as a “translation problem” is to trivialise decades of betrayal and the ongoing suffering of millions. But it must be noted that many Francophones themselves have been miseducated by state propaganda in Yaoundé. For them, history has been rewritten in school textbooks to erase the international character of the Southern Cameroons question.

Thus, while Beyala’s words mislead, she is also a product of a system that systematically hides the truth. The responsibility of intellectuals, however, is to rise above such distortions.

For Francophone Education

For clarity, the essential facts are these:

Independence Dates Matter

La République du Cameroun: 1 January 1960 (from France).

Southern Cameroons: 1 October 1961 (end of British trusteeship).

No Treaty of Union
International law requires a treaty for states to merge. None exists between La République du Cameroun and Southern Cameroons.

No Consent for Assimilation
Southern Cameroonians never voted to become bilingual subjects of a centralised state.

Not About Language
This is about sovereignty and the right of a people to self-determination under international law.

Conclusion

Calixthe Beyala’s remarks may reflect widespread misconceptions, but they must be corrected. Southern Cameroons is not a translation problem, nor a regional grievance. It is an unresolved case of decolonisation — a conflict between two states, one of which has been denied its independence.

The intellectual duty of writers, academics, and leaders is to tell the truth and not perpetuate narratives that serve power at the expense of justice.

Uchiba Nelson
Contributor, The Independentist